Why Emilia Clarke’s “Me Before You” is so controversial

If there’s one thing audiences can’t get enough of in their moviegoing habits, it’s a sweeping romantic drama that tugs at their heart strings and has them reaching for a box of tissues as the credits roll. In 2016game of Thrones Alum Emilia Clarke performed alongside Daisy Jones and the Six Star Sam Claflin in Me in front of youan adaptation of Jojo Moyes’ novel of the same name, which depicts the deep relationship that develops between a funny and lively carer and the quadriplegic man she is tasked with helping.

Although Me in front of you Although the film was a smash at the box office, grossing a whopping $208.3 million against a budget of just $20 million, it did not receive rave reviews from critics and caused some controversy upon its worldwide release. Many in the disability rights movement felt the drama was a negative portrayal of their community, leading to protests and outrage. Let’s take a closer look at what the film is about and why it caused so much criticism and scandal.

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Release date

June 3, 2016

A poignant adaptation of a romantic drama

Based on the popular novel of the same name by Jojo Moyes, the emotionally gripping romantic drama from 2016 Me in front of you tells the poignant story of a life-changing bond between a quadriplegic and his caregiver. It centers on quirky and free-spirited Louisa “Lou” Clark (Emilia Clarke), who, after jumping from job to job in search of fulfillment, develops a deep connection with paralyzed young banker Will Traynor (Sam Claflin). Lou makes it her mission to bring happiness and fun into Will’s life and lift his cynical mood, ultimately breaking through his cold behavior with her infectious personality.

Lou helps Will find a new sense of joy and meaning in the world, despite his unfortunate circumstances. However, when she finds out, she quickly realizes that her efforts may be in vain He wants to go to Switzerland for euthanasia. As their bond deepens and romantic feelings naturally develop between the two lovers, The couple must come to terms with the course of their personal journey While Lou makes it his mission to change Will’s mind and convince him that there is still much to live for.

Me in front of you celebrated its impressive premiere on June 3, 2016 and exceeded expectations at the box office. It grossed $18.3 million in its opening weekend before ending its theatrical run with Total gross of $208.3 million on a budget of just $20 million. While moviegoers were wowed by Clarke’s stunning performance as the charming Lou and her effortless chemistry with her co-star Claflin, critics were unimpressed with the way the adaptation handles the sensitive subject, giving the drama a rating of 54%. Rotten Tomatoes scores a much better 73% of the audience on Popcorn Meter.

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“Me Before You” sparks controversy and protests

As with its literary counterpart Me in front of you sparked widespread protests and controversy upon its release, as the adaptation was outraged by the perceived message the romantic drama conveyed, and many in the disability rights movement felt that the adaptation was not the case advocates that dead people are better off than disabled people and that they are a burden for their relatives and carers. Those who spoke out against the problematic portrayal of disabled people also felt this Me in front of you was in favor of suicide so that their families could “live courageously.” Other critics of the film believed it was an exploitation of the disabled community.

The decision to cast Sam Claflin in the role of quadriplegic Will Traynor also met with criticism from some viewerswho pointed out how hypocritical it was to try to accurately portray the life of a disabled person without actually hiring a disabled person for the role or using them for acting opportunities. #MeBeforeEuthanasia began trending online, as did a campaign by the group Not Dead Yet UK, which described the film as “little more than a disability snuff film”.“To convey the message to viewers that if you are a disabled person, it is better to be dead.” Following the release of the drama, protests broke out in the United States as well as the United Kingdom and Australia.

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Author Jojo Moyes responded to the intense backlash from disability groups over the film and expressed how She was inspired to write the novel by her personal experiences with relatives who required around-the-clock care, as well as a powerful article she read about a paraplegic man who was taken to a euthanasia center after killing his parents had convinced. Speaking about Traynor’s decision to end his life rather than embrace his existence with Lou by his side, Moyes said she was initially surprised by the controversy Me in front of you, Stylist in 2016:

“The fact is that in the film, as in the book, no one else agrees with what he decides to do. This is by no means sending a message. It’s just about a character – it’s nothing more.”

Electricity Me in front of you on Prime Video.